Chapter 122: Congratulations, Jenny

When Jenny had received the call from Jasmine’s office, she’d known that something was up. Jasmine definitely wouldn’t just make a call for anything casual. Something was up.

No, her younger sister thrived on theatrics and she was either summoning Jenny to prove a point or to assert dominance. Which was it?

Whatever it was, Jenny didn’t let that get to her. She was currently the one winning. Their mother might have removed one of their weapons off the board but Jenny’s name was still the one being placed next to Apex’s publicity.

She walked with her head held high, her high heels which she’d worn for this exact purpose clicking on the floor. It was her war drum. Her own way of drawing attention to herself and telling everyone that a stronger competitor was in town.

Her only weakness right now, if she had any, would be the FleetForward investment.

Greg Albright had been dragging his feet in the negotiations and she was sure he was playing both sides.

Why wouldn’t he? He’s the one with the hot technology that everyone wanted. By pitting Apex and Harrington, he gets to hash out the best deal for himself.

Jenny had run the numbers and given her final offer. The ball was now in his court.

She finally arrived in front of the glass doors leading to the throne room. She adjusted her posture, smoothing her blazer as if it were armor, and pushed the door open without hesitation. No need for that when she was facing her oldest opponent.

She entered to see Jasmine seated behind her desk, wearing a smile that Jenny knew spelled trouble on her face. Their mother had laid all the groundwork designing the room and Jasmine was taking advantage of it, looking every inch the apex predator.

"Jenny." She greeted with a sweet tone that may have fooled others but set the hackles on Jenny rising. "Thanks for coming. I wanted to talk to you about your ESG fund."

Jenny raised an eyebrow, taking a seat opposite her sister. Maybe Jasmine had finally found an excuse to shut down the idea. If she did, she’d wait for some time, rebrand the thing and present it as her idea. Typical Jasmine.

"I’m listening." Jenny told her sister.

Jasmine leaned forward slightly, her smile growing wider. "I’ve approved it. Congratulations."

Jenny blinked in surprise. She’d approved it? And she was congratulating her? No. This wasn;t a win. Not for her. If Jasmine was giving her good news with a smile like that, she had to have some bad news to go along with it.@@novelbin@@

"Thank you." She said in response to her sister, a neutral expression on her face. What was she playing at? She never gave something for nothing.

"I have to admit," Jasmine continued, tapping a manicured nail against her desk with the same smile still fixed on her face, "I didn’t think you’d get this far with your proposal. But you’ve been persistent and I respect that. Apex Future Focus is officially a go."

"I see." Jenny nodded, keeping her composure. "I appreciate your support. It’s the right move for Apex."

"Is it?" Jasmine asked, leaning back in her chair. "Or is it just the right move for you?"

"What’s good for the company is good for everyone, Jasmine." Jenny answered, holding her ground. "Including you." Just because Jasmine had a hidden knife didn’t mean she’ll be shying away from combat.

Jasmine chuckled at her words and Jenny couldn’t help but feel a flicker of unease. "You always have such a noble way of framing things, don’t you? But let’s not pretend this isn’t a competition. We both know what’s at stake here."

Jenny didn’t respond. Her sister was just beating around the bush. No need to drag this for any longer. It was time to see what Jasmine really wanted.

"So, how’s the FleetForward negotiations coming along?" Jasmine asked, her tone suddenly casual.

Jenny forced her brows to not rise, maintaining a calm expression. "It’s going well." She answered confidently. "Negotiations are progressing, and I’m confident we’ll secure the deal."

"Oh, Jenny. Always so optimistic." Jasmine’s smile turned predatory. She leaned back in her chair, her fingers interlaced behind her head. "Haven’t you heard?"

Jenny’s hands tightened into fists out of Jasmine’s view. "Heard what?"

As if she couldn’t contain her excitement, Jasmine leaned forward, her elbows resting on the desk as she reveled in the moment. "Harrington & Co closed the deal just hours ago. They’ve already invested in FleetForward."

The words hit like a gut punch but Jenny controlled herself, keeping her expression neutral. She couldn’t give Jasmine the satisfaction of seeing her rattle. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, as if considering the information.

"Interesting." She said evenly. "I suppose FleetForward made their choice. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other opportunities out there."

Jasmine’s laugh was sharp and biting. "Oh, Jenny. Always trying to spin a loss into a win. It’s almost admirable. Almost."

Jenny chuckled as if all was right in the world, meeting her sister’s gaze. There was not a single crack in her mask. After all, this was not her first rodeo.

"It’s not spinning, Jasmine." She said in the same tone she always used to call her sister an idiot. "It’s strategy. Something you might want to brush up on."

Jasmine’s smile dropped for a fraction of a second before she recovered, her tone turning icy. "You can call it whatever you want but that doesn’t change what this is. A loss. And it’s a bad look for Apex. Something you caused."

"So, don’t overstep, Jenny. Remember who’s sitting in the chairman’s seat."

Jenny rose from her seat, a smile on her face. "I don’t need to be reminded. But that seat isn’t yours yet, Jasmine." She chuckled. "Let’s not forget that."

She turned and walked toward the door, pausing only briefly to glance over her shoulder. "Thank you for approving the fund. I’ll make sure it’s a success. For Apex, of course."

Without waiting for a response, Jenny left the office. The moment she was outside, her smile disappeared from her face like it had never been there.

Jasmine had collaborated with James Harrington and together, they’d put an end to her move to show her division can also bring profits.

Fuck. If she can’t come up with something, Jasmine would be able to use the lack of clear profits against her division but right now, things are still manageable. This was a setback, not a defeat.

As she walked back to her office, her hands twitched towards her phone in the pockets of her pantsuit before she stopped herself.

No. She couldn’t get help. Not from Nico and not from Amelia. She’d solve this herself.

She got to the elevator and stepped inside. As it took her down to her office, she stared at her reflection in the mirrored walls. Jasmine’s move had just woken up something inside her.

"This is not over yet." She murmured to herself. "Not by a long shot."

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